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All My Rage
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2022)Sabaa TahirYouth Large Print09/28/2022514Binding Library Binding1.55lbs8.50h x 5.40w x 1.20d9781432897055Young AdultAcceleratedReading 4.2Point 12Interest Upper GradeQuiz #/ 517032 / All My RageBoston Globe-Horn Book Awards - WinnerNational Book Awards - Winner
514 pages, Library Binding
First published March 1, 2022
2539 people are currently reading
139302 people want to read
About the author
Sabaa Tahir
27 books37.1k followers**My apologies if I don't respond to emails or friend requests right away! Come find me on Twitter or Instagram @sabaatahir, or on my web site: www.sabaatahir.com
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,956 reviews
April 2, 2022
Sabaa Tahir deserves the world and nothing less for birthing this book. this book took me through all the emotions and i don’t regret it one bit.
sabaa puts into words the way i think and feel. the way that grief, failure, love, struggle, and forgiveness is written in this book made me ACHE!! my heart was pounding and my eyes were puffy and red.
i found myself rooting and fighting for these characters from the first place to the last. i care so much for them. i went to Sabaa Tahir’s book tour in Chicago for this book and literally hearing the way she just talks…like of course this book is a masterpiece.
i definitely respect the Muslim rep in this book. i felt seen as a Pakistani-American Muslim myself. I was especially connected to the parts in the story that were in Lahore, Pakistan because that is where my family is originally from. Reading the Urdu and Punjabi just made me feel so good.
this quickly turned into one of my favorite books of all time that i know i’ll constantly be thinking about in the back of my head.
please look up TWs for this book but the main ones are: islamophobia, racism, drug and alcohol use, loss of loved ones. this is a YA book but it’s heavy on the dark topics.
sabaa puts into words the way i think and feel. the way that grief, failure, love, struggle, and forgiveness is written in this book made me ACHE!! my heart was pounding and my eyes were puffy and red.
i found myself rooting and fighting for these characters from the first place to the last. i care so much for them. i went to Sabaa Tahir’s book tour in Chicago for this book and literally hearing the way she just talks…like of course this book is a masterpiece.
i definitely respect the Muslim rep in this book. i felt seen as a Pakistani-American Muslim myself. I was especially connected to the parts in the story that were in Lahore, Pakistan because that is where my family is originally from. Reading the Urdu and Punjabi just made me feel so good.
this quickly turned into one of my favorite books of all time that i know i’ll constantly be thinking about in the back of my head.
please look up TWs for this book but the main ones are: islamophobia, racism, drug and alcohol use, loss of loved ones. this is a YA book but it’s heavy on the dark topics.
April 14, 2022
oof. this is a tough one. its a novel that absolutely requires the reader to be in the right kind of headspace in order to digest it.
for me, all i could think about while reading this is just how much hurt people hurt other people. and the story for sure induced some rage in me.
and thats why i think last chapter or so saved the entire book. without it, all the fury that had built up would have prevented me from enjoying this as a whole. i definitely needed that diffusion at the end, personally.
but because of the content material and relevance of it, i can easily see this being taught in school alongside ‘the hate you give.’
↠ 4 stars
for me, all i could think about while reading this is just how much hurt people hurt other people. and the story for sure induced some rage in me.
and thats why i think last chapter or so saved the entire book. without it, all the fury that had built up would have prevented me from enjoying this as a whole. i definitely needed that diffusion at the end, personally.
but because of the content material and relevance of it, i can easily see this being taught in school alongside ‘the hate you give.’
↠ 4 stars
February 2, 2022
I will gather my thoughts together about this book one day but I have two things to say:
(1) Read this book. Preorder it. Request it from the library. Share it. Teach it in schools.
(2) Please please please look up the triggers/content warnings on this one. This was a difficult read for me in a lot of ways and while I needed to look straight into the darkness, others may not be ready to do so.
Ok, I lied—(3) Sabaa astounds as always and I'm grateful she shared this story, her story, with the world.
(1) Read this book. Preorder it. Request it from the library. Share it. Teach it in schools.
(2) Please please please look up the triggers/content warnings on this one. This was a difficult read for me in a lot of ways and while I needed to look straight into the darkness, others may not be ready to do so.
Ok, I lied—(3) Sabaa astounds as always and I'm grateful she shared this story, her story, with the world.
August 11, 2024
this book most certainly had shooters in that first 100 pages, did NOT expect to be so brutalized so early but i can’t say i’m mad about it. overall this is a beautiful story about generational trauma, grief, and how to do right by the people around us even when we don’t know where to begin. i do think it is perhaps a bit too ambitious - there’s a massive breadth in different topics explored and it’s impossible in a book of this length to do each the justice they deserve. but that is not a massive slight, especially considering how intersectional so many of the issues in this book are - real people are also beset on all sides sometimes and have no idea wtf to do about it. still an incredibly powerful book. i LOVE ms. tahir. what a star.
February 26, 2022
a really quick review — this book is DAMN good. it’s been two weeks since I finished this book and i’m still thinking about it. ik this is bold of me to say but this is probably the best of Sabaa’s books thus far
full review below:
This is a non-spoiler review. Thank you to Penguin Teen for an early copy of this book (honest opinions only).
Trigger warnings for AMR: drug and alcohol addiction, mentions of repressed sexual assault, physical abuse, Islamophobia, racism, death, law enforcement
If you are a fan of Sabaa Tahir, if you are a child of immigrants (or an immigrant to America yourself), if you are Pakistani, if you are Muslim, if you liked any of Khaled Hosseini’s books if you trust my opinion — you need to read this book. Whether or not you like contemporaries, I fiercely recommend All My Rage.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to capture how this book makes me feel. All My Rage is a deep dive into grief, betrayal and forgiveness, loss, and of course, rage. It’s an assessment of hope — but not in the way the Ember series was. It’s a story with true roots of broken American dreams and hiding so deeply within yourself to protect your heart because you look different from your peers.
It’s a YA story with adult themes and yet I think it should be taught in every high school in this country.
I am not Pakistani but I understand Punjabi and Urdu and the visceral experience of having true South Asian representation is a gratifying feeling I will never, ever get used to. Though the Muslim experiences in this book are not ones I relate to, we are not a monolith and the way Sabaa tells these characters’ stories and struggles with faith is deeply respectful and not dismissive in any way. I already know many Muslims may not like the Muslim rep in this book but I ask that you all read AMR with an open mind and knowing that every Muslim is different. I am recommending it because it is not dismissive or disrespectful as many other Muslim rep books are of hijabis or those who follow the faith more closely.
I am a deeply emotional person and that is why I connect with Sabaa’s writing so vehemently. She captures grief in a way that I’ve never been able to express or understand verbally and I cried my EYES out reading this book. It was heart-wrenching and soul-shattering through more than just sadness and heartbreak; I felt seen and vulnerable and that was more than enough to open the floodgates.
If you’ve read any of Sabaa’s books, you’ll know that she knows how to tell a story and how to do revelations. AMR is no different. I would go even as far as to say that All My Rage is her best work — and this is coming from someone who has over 20 copies of the Ember series (and counting). Salahudin, Noor, and Misbah are characters that will live with me for a long, long time to come and to probably no one’s surprise, my favorite was Salahudin. Sabaa truly knows how to write men 😭
All My Rage is a love letter to family, Pakistan, music, and to the ties that bind us together. I highly recommend 💗
full review below:
This is a non-spoiler review. Thank you to Penguin Teen for an early copy of this book (honest opinions only).
Trigger warnings for AMR: drug and alcohol addiction, mentions of repressed sexual assault, physical abuse, Islamophobia, racism, death, law enforcement
If you are a fan of Sabaa Tahir, if you are a child of immigrants (or an immigrant to America yourself), if you are Pakistani, if you are Muslim, if you liked any of Khaled Hosseini’s books if you trust my opinion — you need to read this book. Whether or not you like contemporaries, I fiercely recommend All My Rage.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to capture how this book makes me feel. All My Rage is a deep dive into grief, betrayal and forgiveness, loss, and of course, rage. It’s an assessment of hope — but not in the way the Ember series was. It’s a story with true roots of broken American dreams and hiding so deeply within yourself to protect your heart because you look different from your peers.
It’s a YA story with adult themes and yet I think it should be taught in every high school in this country.
I am not Pakistani but I understand Punjabi and Urdu and the visceral experience of having true South Asian representation is a gratifying feeling I will never, ever get used to. Though the Muslim experiences in this book are not ones I relate to, we are not a monolith and the way Sabaa tells these characters’ stories and struggles with faith is deeply respectful and not dismissive in any way. I already know many Muslims may not like the Muslim rep in this book but I ask that you all read AMR with an open mind and knowing that every Muslim is different. I am recommending it because it is not dismissive or disrespectful as many other Muslim rep books are of hijabis or those who follow the faith more closely.
I am a deeply emotional person and that is why I connect with Sabaa’s writing so vehemently. She captures grief in a way that I’ve never been able to express or understand verbally and I cried my EYES out reading this book. It was heart-wrenching and soul-shattering through more than just sadness and heartbreak; I felt seen and vulnerable and that was more than enough to open the floodgates.
If you’ve read any of Sabaa’s books, you’ll know that she knows how to tell a story and how to do revelations. AMR is no different. I would go even as far as to say that All My Rage is her best work — and this is coming from someone who has over 20 copies of the Ember series (and counting). Salahudin, Noor, and Misbah are characters that will live with me for a long, long time to come and to probably no one’s surprise, my favorite was Salahudin. Sabaa truly knows how to write men 😭
All My Rage is a love letter to family, Pakistan, music, and to the ties that bind us together. I highly recommend 💗
February 7, 2025
I chose such a sad one on my birthday 😭 so good though!
Sabaa Tahir has a knack for creating stories that sit with you long after you're finished reading. All My Rage was powerful, addicting and heart wrenching.
While emotional books can be difficult to read, this is one that I recommend everyone picks up at some point. With relatable characters, a powerful storyline, and exquisite writing.
This one is a definite must read.
💜Dark and Heavy Topics
🧡YA Novel
💜Coming of Age
🧡Muslim Rep
💜Dual POV
🧡Love and Loss
💜Grief
🧡Friendship/Family and Forgiveness
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Sabaa Tahir has a knack for creating stories that sit with you long after you're finished reading. All My Rage was powerful, addicting and heart wrenching.
While emotional books can be difficult to read, this is one that I recommend everyone picks up at some point. With relatable characters, a powerful storyline, and exquisite writing.
This one is a definite must read.
💜Dark and Heavy Topics
🧡YA Novel
💜Coming of Age
🧡Muslim Rep
💜Dual POV
🧡Love and Loss
💜Grief
🧡Friendship/Family and Forgiveness
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
October 9, 2022
Sabaa Tahir: So I-
Me, a very sane fan:
Me, a very sane fan:
February 1, 2023
All My Rage is a devastatingly profound, emotionally moving story exploring the lives of three main characters and their interwoven journeys. It’s a story of forgiveness and heartache that focuses on a Pakistani community reeling from grief and destructive choices. Yet, it is a love story of two souls desperate to make sense of all the chaos around their broken worlds.
Misbah, an immigrant, is struggling to run The Cloud's Rest Motel with her husband Taufiq, who happens to drink all the time. The entire business is on her shoulders. When she finds out she is ill, the pressures of the motel, her alcoholic husband, and other people's difficulties continue to plague her every waking hour.
Salahudin is the son of Misbah and Taufiq. He’s trying to fit in. It’s his last year of high school and he’s going to ride it out while staying ambiguous to the constraints of being different. When “Sal” gets involved with some dangerous work, he begins to feel the pressure of being discovered. The desire to keep the motel running and operating smoothly puts Sal under more fire.
Noor, an immigrant comes to America at the age of six. Fighting to find an ounce of semblance, Sal becomes her best friend, helping her navigate the chaos of being 'another'. If it wasn’t for her Uncle Riaz who dug her out from the rubble, Noor would have died along with her entire family during the earthquake in Pakistan. She should be so grateful to her Uncle Riaz, but his desire to give up his culture and religion puts pressure on Noor. He is mean-spirited and doesn’t want Noor to go on to college or have any future besides working at his liquor shop.
Through quiet moments of joy and suffering, the three characters are interconnected in this novel that exquisitely tells a story of truth and forgiveness.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about my first time reading a book by Sabaa Tahir. Tahir has a level of eloquence in writing that moves you to reread entire passages. Her sheer generosity with words is breathtaking.
All My Rage touches on many difficult topics: sexual and physical abuse, death, drugs, and prejudice. Yet, Tahir gives respect to every topic, carefully expressing ideas with integrity.
The book does an amazing job of connecting songs to help characters cope with anxiety. I look forward to finding a playlist that has many of my favorites.
Tahir is brave and confident in her storytelling, debunking many myths that newly arrived immigrants and people of color experience. Her graciousness is commendable.
This book was 5/5 stars for me. I’ve already begun recommending All My Rage to friends and family.
Misbah, an immigrant, is struggling to run The Cloud's Rest Motel with her husband Taufiq, who happens to drink all the time. The entire business is on her shoulders. When she finds out she is ill, the pressures of the motel, her alcoholic husband, and other people's difficulties continue to plague her every waking hour.
Salahudin is the son of Misbah and Taufiq. He’s trying to fit in. It’s his last year of high school and he’s going to ride it out while staying ambiguous to the constraints of being different. When “Sal” gets involved with some dangerous work, he begins to feel the pressure of being discovered. The desire to keep the motel running and operating smoothly puts Sal under more fire.
Noor, an immigrant comes to America at the age of six. Fighting to find an ounce of semblance, Sal becomes her best friend, helping her navigate the chaos of being 'another'. If it wasn’t for her Uncle Riaz who dug her out from the rubble, Noor would have died along with her entire family during the earthquake in Pakistan. She should be so grateful to her Uncle Riaz, but his desire to give up his culture and religion puts pressure on Noor. He is mean-spirited and doesn’t want Noor to go on to college or have any future besides working at his liquor shop.
Through quiet moments of joy and suffering, the three characters are interconnected in this novel that exquisitely tells a story of truth and forgiveness.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about my first time reading a book by Sabaa Tahir. Tahir has a level of eloquence in writing that moves you to reread entire passages. Her sheer generosity with words is breathtaking.
All My Rage touches on many difficult topics: sexual and physical abuse, death, drugs, and prejudice. Yet, Tahir gives respect to every topic, carefully expressing ideas with integrity.
The book does an amazing job of connecting songs to help characters cope with anxiety. I look forward to finding a playlist that has many of my favorites.
Tahir is brave and confident in her storytelling, debunking many myths that newly arrived immigrants and people of color experience. Her graciousness is commendable.
This book was 5/5 stars for me. I’ve already begun recommending All My Rage to friends and family.
June 28, 2022
So many issues have been raised in this book which is a good thing as we need to address these. Alcoholism, Islamophobia, domestic violence, drug/sexual abuse, and racism, you name it and this book has it. On surface this story seems to be very strong but once i finished it and thought about it I realised that the characters associated with these does not reflect what made them to push into alcoholism, domestic violence, drug abuse or racism. They were just like that. The more I think about the shallower the story and its characters becomes.
I think instead of cramming so many social issues in one story, it would have been better to pick two or three of these and then weave a cohesive story around it. This was just all over the place.
I think instead of cramming so many social issues in one story, it would have been better to pick two or three of these and then weave a cohesive story around it. This was just all over the place.
June 18, 2023
This was an emotionally heavy read. 🙂 You’ll feel all the emotions, but also absolute RAGE. 😡 It’s sad, it’s beautiful and so worthwhile. If you’ve not read it yet, move it up on your list! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
January 3, 2022
devastating, beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing…I’m going to remember this story forever.
full review to come closer to release date!
full review to come closer to release date!
May 22, 2022
I liked the content of this book a lot, even though the writing style disappointed me a bit. Saaba Tahir tackles so many important topics in All My Rage, including Islamophobia, abuse, substance use disorders, racism, financial stress and more. I felt that she captured the full emotional weight of these issues through her main characters, Salahudin and Noor, and through their journeys she showed us that anger and rage act as appropriate responses to mistreatment and trauma. She also highlights how her characters cope and begin to heal from the struggles they face which felt hopeful though not overly optimistic. Through reading this novel I could feel Tahir’s deep care both about these important issues and about her characters.
I only give this book three stars because the writing style distracted me from the story and its characters. I felt at times that Tahir would “overwrite” some of the emotions and thoughts of our protagonists, so it came across as tell and not show. Still, I appreciate this book for the positives it does offer, like two people of color falling for one another romantically and a nuanced portrayal of intergenerational trauma and resilience.
I only give this book three stars because the writing style distracted me from the story and its characters. I felt at times that Tahir would “overwrite” some of the emotions and thoughts of our protagonists, so it came across as tell and not show. Still, I appreciate this book for the positives it does offer, like two people of color falling for one another romantically and a nuanced portrayal of intergenerational trauma and resilience.
March 10, 2022
28/02/2022: unalived me actually i was crying into my pillow at 5 am and couldn’t sleep after. SABAA TAHIR NEVER MISSES ✨
» thank you to penguin teen for the arc !!
8/12/2021: crying I can’t wait for this
» thank you to penguin teen for the arc !!
8/12/2021: crying I can’t wait for this
January 27, 2022
Initial reaction: This book was EVERYTHING. I cried so much and my heart is still aching. I felt so raw reading it and I can’t imagine having the strength to write it. Sabaa already had all my respect and it’s since tripled.
I've been reflecting on this book for a while, wondering how to write this review. I read this book in November, and since then, not a day goes by where it doesn't cross my mind. Sabaa said that All My Rage took her ten years to write. It very well may take me ten years to recover. When we say books have the power to change us, it's books like this one that do just that.
All My Rage is a story of struggle. It's a story of loss and love, of failure and success, and of rage and the mercy of forgiveness. This book will leave you raw. And aching. With puffy eyes because you started crying around page 50 and you never stopped. But it's a story that needs to be told. The struggle of the "American dream", of two teenagers stuck in a town with their own individual problems and who somehow still need to lean on each other.
I'm going to speak very briefly on the Muslim rep and leave it at that. These characters have a deeply complex relationship with their faith and while it may not be an experience I completely relate to, that doesn't make it any less valid. The rep is written with the utmost respect for the religion and other Muslims.
There's a particular scene near the end where a character turns to their faith at their lowest moment, and friends, this scene broke me. There are tears running down my face as I write this review because the amount of grief and emotion in this book is enough to keep me crying months after I read it. I feel as though my soul was shattered by this book, but in a way that I know I'll be a better person because of.
I always recommend Sabaa's books, but this is the one. If you only take one book recommendation from me for the rest of time, let it be this one.
TW: drug and alcohol addiction, mentions of repressed sexual assault, physical abuse, Islamophobia, racism, death, law enforcement, grief
I received an arc of this title from PenguinTeen in exchange for an honest review.
I've been reflecting on this book for a while, wondering how to write this review. I read this book in November, and since then, not a day goes by where it doesn't cross my mind. Sabaa said that All My Rage took her ten years to write. It very well may take me ten years to recover. When we say books have the power to change us, it's books like this one that do just that.
All My Rage is a story of struggle. It's a story of loss and love, of failure and success, and of rage and the mercy of forgiveness. This book will leave you raw. And aching. With puffy eyes because you started crying around page 50 and you never stopped. But it's a story that needs to be told. The struggle of the "American dream", of two teenagers stuck in a town with their own individual problems and who somehow still need to lean on each other.
I'm going to speak very briefly on the Muslim rep and leave it at that. These characters have a deeply complex relationship with their faith and while it may not be an experience I completely relate to, that doesn't make it any less valid. The rep is written with the utmost respect for the religion and other Muslims.
There's a particular scene near the end where a character turns to their faith at their lowest moment, and friends, this scene broke me. There are tears running down my face as I write this review because the amount of grief and emotion in this book is enough to keep me crying months after I read it. I feel as though my soul was shattered by this book, but in a way that I know I'll be a better person because of.
I always recommend Sabaa's books, but this is the one. If you only take one book recommendation from me for the rest of time, let it be this one.
TW: drug and alcohol addiction, mentions of repressed sexual assault, physical abuse, Islamophobia, racism, death, law enforcement, grief
I received an arc of this title from PenguinTeen in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2022
Ta książka jest potężna. Trudna. Ważna. Chyba jedna z najlepszych powieści YA, jakie czytałem w tym roku. Dotknęła mnie personalnie w wielu momentach. Wzruszałem się, wkurzałem (tak jak bohaterowie) i prędko o tej książce nie zapomnę. Wow, chcę więcej!
October 31, 2024
This book is an absolutely devastating and deeply moving novel that tackles themes of loss, love, and generational trauma with an intensity that leaves you reeling. The story revolves around two teens, Salahudin and Noor, who have been best friends for as long as they can remember but find themselves drifting apart as life throws insurmountable challenges their way. Set in a small town in California, the novel alternates between their perspectives and that of Salahudin’s mother, Misbah, weaving a multigenerational story of family secrets, grief, and resilience.
What struck me most about All My Rage was its emotional depth. Tahir doesn’t shy away from tough topics—substance abuse, family violence, racism, and mental health—but she handles them with such sensitivity and care that they never feel gratuitous. The way the characters struggle with their pain is heartbreakingly real. Salahudin’s grief over his mother's illness and Noor's fight to escape a toxic home environment create a palpable tension that makes you ache for them. Yet, despite the darkness, there’s also a powerful thread of hope and love that runs through the book, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit.
Tahir’s writing is stunning, blending poetic imagery with raw emotion. She excels at capturing the nuances of cultural identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. The characters feel fully realized, and their struggles resonate deeply. The bond between Salahudin and Noor is beautifully complex—equal parts tender and painful—making their journey one that will stay with you long after the final page.
All My Rage is a triumph. It’s a story about grief, redemption, and the ties that bind us, even when those ties are frayed beyond repair. This is a must-read for anyone who loves powerful, character-driven stories that explore the complexities of life, family, and forgiveness. Tahir has crafted a novel that is as heart-wrenching as it is hopeful, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.
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What struck me most about All My Rage was its emotional depth. Tahir doesn’t shy away from tough topics—substance abuse, family violence, racism, and mental health—but she handles them with such sensitivity and care that they never feel gratuitous. The way the characters struggle with their pain is heartbreakingly real. Salahudin’s grief over his mother's illness and Noor's fight to escape a toxic home environment create a palpable tension that makes you ache for them. Yet, despite the darkness, there’s also a powerful thread of hope and love that runs through the book, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit.
Tahir’s writing is stunning, blending poetic imagery with raw emotion. She excels at capturing the nuances of cultural identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. The characters feel fully realized, and their struggles resonate deeply. The bond between Salahudin and Noor is beautifully complex—equal parts tender and painful—making their journey one that will stay with you long after the final page.
All My Rage is a triumph. It’s a story about grief, redemption, and the ties that bind us, even when those ties are frayed beyond repair. This is a must-read for anyone who loves powerful, character-driven stories that explore the complexities of life, family, and forgiveness. Tahir has crafted a novel that is as heart-wrenching as it is hopeful, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.
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September 4, 2023
‘’She was not of my body or my blood, this child. But she was of my soul.
And she had enough fear in her life.’’
This book is so heartbreaking! No child deserves this abuse and violence from their near and dear ones.
The irony when we tell the young ones to be afraid of strangers while it’s the person who’s supposed to protect them are the ones actually hurting them.
It’s the story of Noor whose mother passed away while she was a kid and whose father is a hopeless alcoholic. She was left under the care of an uncle and her life would go with no one to actually protect her.
It’s a story told from three perspectives: one from Noor’s, one from Sal (her childhood friend and our male protagonist) and Misbah (Sal’s mother).
It’s so sad reading their stories as both of them have fathers who are alcoholics and mothers who were suffering from terminal illnesses.
The story deals with passing away of someone close, grief and abuse within the family.
Also, a huge part deals with young people, substance abuse and drug dealing.
I find the writing so heartfelt and beautiful. The characters are so well etched out and they will remain with me forever.
My most memorable character would be Misbah and you will know why when you read the book!
And yes to the subtle romance! I wasn’t expecting it you know!
The book has a wholesome closure. It’s just. It’s beautiful. It’s meant to be.
And she had enough fear in her life.’’
This book is so heartbreaking! No child deserves this abuse and violence from their near and dear ones.
The irony when we tell the young ones to be afraid of strangers while it’s the person who’s supposed to protect them are the ones actually hurting them.
It’s the story of Noor whose mother passed away while she was a kid and whose father is a hopeless alcoholic. She was left under the care of an uncle and her life would go with no one to actually protect her.
It’s a story told from three perspectives: one from Noor’s, one from Sal (her childhood friend and our male protagonist) and Misbah (Sal’s mother).
It’s so sad reading their stories as both of them have fathers who are alcoholics and mothers who were suffering from terminal illnesses.
The story deals with passing away of someone close, grief and abuse within the family.
Also, a huge part deals with young people, substance abuse and drug dealing.
I find the writing so heartfelt and beautiful. The characters are so well etched out and they will remain with me forever.
My most memorable character would be Misbah and you will know why when you read the book!
And yes to the subtle romance! I wasn’t expecting it you know!
The book has a wholesome closure. It’s just. It’s beautiful. It’s meant to be.
September 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Tahir is a talented writer for sure but this book felt like it tackled a few too many social issues.
Tahir is a talented writer for sure but this book felt like it tackled a few too many social issues.
January 25, 2023
5 stars
“I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.”
Salahudin and Noor have been best friends since they are little, though recently going through a rough patch in their friendship. But when Salahudin has a family tragedy, Noor is there for him as much as she can be. Sal is faced with running the family business while still in high school with an alcoholic father. Noor desperately wants to go to college and to escape her small town and the uncle she is indebted to.
“Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be.”
What a lovely, powerful book. I wasn’t a fan of this author’s fantasy series, but kept hearing great things about this book. On a whim I bought it from a local indie bookstore and absolutely loved it. It covers a lot of tough subjects and casts empathy on characters who are normally judged harshly. This book was so profound, so moving. While many things were hard to read, I found I couldn’t put the book down. You can tell this story was deeply personal to the author and you could feel she put her whole heart put into this book.
“I’ll survive this. I’ll live. But there’s a hole in me, never to be filled. Maybe that’s why people die of old age. Maybe we could live forever if we didn’t love so completely. But we do. And by the time old age comes, we’re filled with holes, so many that it’s too hard to breathe. So many that our insides aren’t even ours anymore. We’re just one big empty space, waiting to be filled by the darkness. Waiting to be free.”
“I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.”
Salahudin and Noor have been best friends since they are little, though recently going through a rough patch in their friendship. But when Salahudin has a family tragedy, Noor is there for him as much as she can be. Sal is faced with running the family business while still in high school with an alcoholic father. Noor desperately wants to go to college and to escape her small town and the uncle she is indebted to.
“Rage can fuel you. But grief gnaws at you slow, a termite nibbling at your soul until you're a whisper of what you used to be.”
What a lovely, powerful book. I wasn’t a fan of this author’s fantasy series, but kept hearing great things about this book. On a whim I bought it from a local indie bookstore and absolutely loved it. It covers a lot of tough subjects and casts empathy on characters who are normally judged harshly. This book was so profound, so moving. While many things were hard to read, I found I couldn’t put the book down. You can tell this story was deeply personal to the author and you could feel she put her whole heart put into this book.
“I’ll survive this. I’ll live. But there’s a hole in me, never to be filled. Maybe that’s why people die of old age. Maybe we could live forever if we didn’t love so completely. But we do. And by the time old age comes, we’re filled with holes, so many that it’s too hard to breathe. So many that our insides aren’t even ours anymore. We’re just one big empty space, waiting to be filled by the darkness. Waiting to be free.”
March 25, 2022
i read this book in one day.
it's an incredible book that delves into the nuances of what it means to be an immigrant and a muslim outside your home country. i cried and tabbed so many pages. i've been looking for a muslim rep experience that doesn't completely reject islam nor is the "perfect muslim model" (because that doesn't exist) and sabaa tahir delivered. this book is a treasure, showing the perfection of being imperfect.
i cried. the emotional plotlines were a gut punch and the goosebumps i had oh my god.
i adored how faith was never a synonym with weakness and being apologetic. no. it was a synonym with strength.
the tension between sal and noor, their friendship, their love, everything was so raw and beautiful. misbah has my whole heart and i sobbed so much. misbah means lantern in arabic and boy was she a lantern illuminating the way for her two children.
it just occurred to me right this very second that misbah is a lantern that emits light. and noor means light in arabic.
yeah... i am not okay.
it's an incredible book that delves into the nuances of what it means to be an immigrant and a muslim outside your home country. i cried and tabbed so many pages. i've been looking for a muslim rep experience that doesn't completely reject islam nor is the "perfect muslim model" (because that doesn't exist) and sabaa tahir delivered. this book is a treasure, showing the perfection of being imperfect.
i cried. the emotional plotlines were a gut punch and the goosebumps i had oh my god.
i adored how faith was never a synonym with weakness and being apologetic. no. it was a synonym with strength.
the tension between sal and noor, their friendship, their love, everything was so raw and beautiful. misbah has my whole heart and i sobbed so much. misbah means lantern in arabic and boy was she a lantern illuminating the way for her two children.
it just occurred to me right this very second that misbah is a lantern that emits light. and noor means light in arabic.
yeah... i am not okay.
April 15, 2022
4.5/5 stars
Sabaa Tahir is an exceptional writer. Why hadn't I read any of her books till now? I'd heard about her popularity in book community. I ignored it when my friends kept requesting me to read An Ember in the Ashes.Yes, it's all on me. What can I say? It happens.
Towards the end of last year, I'd noticed this book in want to read update of Victoria Schwab. Not that I'm a huge fan of her, (I haven't yet read any of her books but, I will in future) I immediately added it to my the list. I've heard great things about Sabaa Tahir. Alas, for one reason or the other, I haven't had the fortune of reading any of her books. So, I really wanted to read All My Rage, being a Muslim myself I thought, I would really enjoy reading it. Also, I wanted to be introduced to her writing and her books, and I'm glad I decided to read All My Rage as soon as it got published.
Noor's entire family died in an earthquake in Pakistan. She was saved by her uncle, with whom she lives now in America and work in his liquor shop. She is good in academics, and is working hard to get into a good college, leave Juniper forever, build up a career of her own so that she is no more indebted to her uncle. The sad part of the story being her uncle, who doesn't want her to get into college. He keeps tab on her every move. Hiding from him, Noor applies for colleges, but has to give interview from her bathroom so that her uncle doesn't get to know. Will she able to free herself from this life? We shall see.
Misbah is Noor's aunt. Salahudin is Misbah aunty's son. Sal and Noor have been best friends since childhood. Sal is too dealing with his share of problem as we notice in the story. Misbah was the one I loved the most reading and knowing about. She is that one invisible thread of hope between Noor and Sal that kept them going on with life. I really felt emotional for her. She is my favorite of the three. It was so disheartening to see her go through so many problems in her life with nobody to share her problems. Despite all that, she remain so strong, positive, and confident about her principles of life, and about humanity.
Told from the first person's POV, the story has three POVs. We, as humans, are very vulnerable to situations. All My Rage tells us deep and harsh reality of myths that we are surrounded by. Girls are trained to behave like flowers, their education thrown out to the air, career objectives get shuffled, and priorities are shifted towards the male gender.I knew this because I spent a lot of my childhood among people with this perceptions towards life.Today if I've to ask them ane question I will ask - tell me how any of this is a good thing?
Misbah is not going to let this thing happen. And she is not going to leave her children unattended. Sabaa Tahir has done an exceptional job in bringing to life the words and emotions that one can only feel. All My Rage is the story of life, friendship, love, pain, and suffering. The way emotions were put into words is a commendable effort by Sabaa Tahir.
If you are a Muslim, you'll love this. I was able to relate to many of the Muslim experiences dekar with in the story. I was very fascinated about the food habits talked about in the book like potato pakoras, kaddu gosht and more. All the punjabi, and hindi dialogues were so masterfully narrated. If you are in hunt if a good emotional heart binding story, you will love it. But, let me warn you, it is difficult book. It will break you from inside, and you will be left sobbing at the end.
This book was a beautiful roller coaster ride of emotions for me. I went into the book to read a simple contemporary story, ended up coming out heart broken with Sabaa Tahir's beautiful piece of work. I wanted to give it five glowing star. I really wanted to. I was a little bit disappointed at the ending, I wanted to see a better ending for the two of them(Noor and Sal). I so wanted it. Hence, I'm reducing that half a star for one little portion of sadness.
I was of the impression of a Fantasy writer who want to try her hands on a different writing style. However, Sabaa Tahir is here to tell us look what I did to your minds with my contemporary YA writing. I'm not here to limit myself to one genre, I'm going to expand it, and I'm going to excel at all of them. Sabaa Tahir is here to win our souls.
Review Posted: 15 Apr 2022.
Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews.
Sabaa Tahir is an exceptional writer. Why hadn't I read any of her books till now? I'd heard about her popularity in book community. I ignored it when my friends kept requesting me to read An Ember in the Ashes.Yes, it's all on me. What can I say? It happens.
Towards the end of last year, I'd noticed this book in want to read update of Victoria Schwab. Not that I'm a huge fan of her, (I haven't yet read any of her books but, I will in future) I immediately added it to my the list. I've heard great things about Sabaa Tahir. Alas, for one reason or the other, I haven't had the fortune of reading any of her books. So, I really wanted to read All My Rage, being a Muslim myself I thought, I would really enjoy reading it. Also, I wanted to be introduced to her writing and her books, and I'm glad I decided to read All My Rage as soon as it got published.
Noor's entire family died in an earthquake in Pakistan. She was saved by her uncle, with whom she lives now in America and work in his liquor shop. She is good in academics, and is working hard to get into a good college, leave Juniper forever, build up a career of her own so that she is no more indebted to her uncle. The sad part of the story being her uncle, who doesn't want her to get into college. He keeps tab on her every move. Hiding from him, Noor applies for colleges, but has to give interview from her bathroom so that her uncle doesn't get to know. Will she able to free herself from this life? We shall see.
Misbah is Noor's aunt. Salahudin is Misbah aunty's son. Sal and Noor have been best friends since childhood. Sal is too dealing with his share of problem as we notice in the story. Misbah was the one I loved the most reading and knowing about. She is that one invisible thread of hope between Noor and Sal that kept them going on with life. I really felt emotional for her. She is my favorite of the three. It was so disheartening to see her go through so many problems in her life with nobody to share her problems. Despite all that, she remain so strong, positive, and confident about her principles of life, and about humanity.
"Great passions grow into monsters in the dark of the mind; but if you share them with loving friends they remain human, they can be endured.
Told from the first person's POV, the story has three POVs. We, as humans, are very vulnerable to situations. All My Rage tells us deep and harsh reality of myths that we are surrounded by. Girls are trained to behave like flowers, their education thrown out to the air, career objectives get shuffled, and priorities are shifted towards the male gender.I knew this because I spent a lot of my childhood among people with this perceptions towards life.Today if I've to ask them ane question I will ask - tell me how any of this is a good thing?
Misbah is not going to let this thing happen. And she is not going to leave her children unattended. Sabaa Tahir has done an exceptional job in bringing to life the words and emotions that one can only feel. All My Rage is the story of life, friendship, love, pain, and suffering. The way emotions were put into words is a commendable effort by Sabaa Tahir.
"In this moment, I wish I were a poet. Not to speak beauty. But to speak pain."
If you are a Muslim, you'll love this. I was able to relate to many of the Muslim experiences dekar with in the story. I was very fascinated about the food habits talked about in the book like potato pakoras, kaddu gosht and more. All the punjabi, and hindi dialogues were so masterfully narrated. If you are in hunt if a good emotional heart binding story, you will love it. But, let me warn you, it is difficult book. It will break you from inside, and you will be left sobbing at the end.
This book was a beautiful roller coaster ride of emotions for me. I went into the book to read a simple contemporary story, ended up coming out heart broken with Sabaa Tahir's beautiful piece of work. I wanted to give it five glowing star. I really wanted to. I was a little bit disappointed at the ending, I wanted to see a better ending for the two of them(Noor and Sal). I so wanted it. Hence, I'm reducing that half a star for one little portion of sadness.
I was of the impression of a Fantasy writer who want to try her hands on a different writing style. However, Sabaa Tahir is here to tell us look what I did to your minds with my contemporary YA writing. I'm not here to limit myself to one genre, I'm going to expand it, and I'm going to excel at all of them. Sabaa Tahir is here to win our souls.
Review Posted: 15 Apr 2022.
Visit My Blog to read this and all my other reviews.
December 20, 2025
For a book that includes serious themes such as addiction and substance abuse, sexual assault, Islamophobia, physical abuse and death, All my rage is no doubt an incredible representation of said themes.
Tahir approaches each topic with unflinching honesty, not exaggerating the pain that her characters endure, yet never diminishing it either. These struggles are rooted in a plot that follows two childhood friends—Salahuddin and Noor— whose lives begin to crumble under the overwhelming path placed in front of them.
Noor, rescued by her uncle back in Pakistan after an earthquake killed her family, is now trapped working in her uncle’s liquor store, quietly suffocating under his control. But even as she is struggling, she doesn’t give up to achieve her dreams, whether or not she has the support of her only blood relative. On the other hand, after Sal’s mother, Misbah, falls gravely ill, it is now his responsibility to shoulder the weight of grief, secrets of his past and keeping his mother’s failing motel afloat; all while struggling with an alcoholic father. One day as their bond weakened, the narrative shifts between the past and the present, bringing in Misbah’s voice through her journey from Pakistan to America.
This incredible story doesn’t shy away from showing how violence can shape a person, but it also highlights the resilience that allows them to keep moving forward. These characters feel real. You feel their pain and what they endure and come to realise how these themes weave into our everyday life—that amidst the stress and suffering lies a sliver of hope, an act of love threaded in a network of cruelty.
On top of that, Tahir’s prose is endlessly lyrical and evocative. I particularly loved how she threads the characters’ fondness for music through the story, allowing it to become a quiet refuge where they feel understood.
Overall, All my rage isn’t just a depiction of suffering, it explores the pain and brings to light about its impact on both young and old people. Through grief, forgiveness and determination, these characters are woven into a story that is both devastating and inspiring.
4.6 stars
Noor, rescued by her uncle back in Pakistan after an earthquake killed her family, is now trapped working in her uncle’s liquor store, quietly suffocating under his control. But even as she is struggling, she doesn’t give up to achieve her dreams, whether or not she has the support of her only blood relative. On the other hand, after Sal’s mother, Misbah, falls gravely ill, it is now his responsibility to shoulder the weight of grief, secrets of his past and keeping his mother’s failing motel afloat; all while struggling with an alcoholic father. One day as their bond weakened, the narrative shifts between the past and the present, bringing in Misbah’s voice through her journey from Pakistan to America.
This incredible story doesn’t shy away from showing how violence can shape a person, but it also highlights the resilience that allows them to keep moving forward. These characters feel real. You feel their pain and what they endure and come to realise how these themes weave into our everyday life—that amidst the stress and suffering lies a sliver of hope, an act of love threaded in a network of cruelty.
On top of that, Tahir’s prose is endlessly lyrical and evocative. I particularly loved how she threads the characters’ fondness for music through the story, allowing it to become a quiet refuge where they feel understood.
Overall, All my rage isn’t just a depiction of suffering, it explores the pain and brings to light about its impact on both young and old people. Through grief, forgiveness and determination, these characters are woven into a story that is both devastating and inspiring.
4.6 stars
Read
July 21, 2022this was SO good
April 18, 2022
❝I wonder what it’s like to be with someone who can love you through your rage.❞
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐞 is the best book I’ve read so far this year. Why? it’s emotional, provocative, wholesome, heartbreaking, hopeful and just all-around incredible🥺💕
I fell in love with the characters from the very start; the story touched my heart in so many ways.
Sabaa Tahir wrote about grief, what it’s like to be hopeless and lost, to survive in a place that just wants to bring you down, to love so deeply that I was able to feel it coming off the pages. She wrote about three kinds of love: family love, friendship love and romantic love and she did all that so beautifully that I just wanted to be a part of it all.
Sabaa’s writing style fit the story so well. We had 3 POVS:
⇒ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐡 (Salahudin’s mother): Her chapters were short and far in between. I loved the little snippets into her life and how she talked about Sal and Noor. You could tell she loved them so much🥺💕
⇒ 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐫: my favorite❤️She had a hard life; she lost her parents when she was a child and her (asshole) uncle took her in and I just hated him so much. I felt all of Noor’s fear, love, hopelessness and rage. She dreams of being a doctor and getting out of Juniper. I just wanted her to get everything she ever wanted🥺I appreciated Noor’s attachment to music and how it was her escape when things got hard...Relatable!
⇒ 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧: I loved him and all his flaws and how he was doing the best thing he could to save those he loves under the circumstances he was in. I just felt for him so much and wanted to give him a hug and tell him everything would be fine😭Also, he’s a nerd and a bookworm and a writer. More reasons to love him😁💓
Noor & Sal’s relationship was just the best❤️I tabbed almost all of their scenes together! You can see clearly how much they love and care for each other. And when things only started getting worse for them I just wanted to punch something I felt so angry!! It was so unfair and they didn’t deserve all that happened to them😭but I can understand how that only made them grow individually and together. (that last chapter was such a relief!)
I cried quite a few times. I felt angry and heartbroken. This story took a piece of my heart with every chapter. I felt so connected to everyone and everything.
As a muslim, I absolutely loved the Islam representation😭❤️it made this story seem even more personal and close to my heart. When Misbah said “If we are lost, God is like water, finding the unknowable path when we cannot.” It made my heart expand🥺
All My Rage also portrays islamophobia, drug and alcohol addiction, physical abuse, the impacts of sexual assault, grief and death, etc...really well. Make sure to check the trigger warnings before going into the story💓
It comes as no surprise to me that I loved this book; An Ember in the Ashes series is one of my favorites😍I admire Sabaa’s way of telling stories and writing characters and taking us along for the ride❤️Looking forward to all the other stories she’ll share with us!
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐠𝐞 is the best book I’ve read so far this year. Why? it’s emotional, provocative, wholesome, heartbreaking, hopeful and just all-around incredible🥺💕
I fell in love with the characters from the very start; the story touched my heart in so many ways.
Sabaa Tahir wrote about grief, what it’s like to be hopeless and lost, to survive in a place that just wants to bring you down, to love so deeply that I was able to feel it coming off the pages. She wrote about three kinds of love: family love, friendship love and romantic love and she did all that so beautifully that I just wanted to be a part of it all.
Sabaa’s writing style fit the story so well. We had 3 POVS:
⇒ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐡 (Salahudin’s mother): Her chapters were short and far in between. I loved the little snippets into her life and how she talked about Sal and Noor. You could tell she loved them so much🥺💕
⇒ 𝐍𝐨𝐨𝐫: my favorite❤️She had a hard life; she lost her parents when she was a child and her (asshole) uncle took her in and I just hated him so much. I felt all of Noor’s fear, love, hopelessness and rage. She dreams of being a doctor and getting out of Juniper. I just wanted her to get everything she ever wanted🥺I appreciated Noor’s attachment to music and how it was her escape when things got hard...Relatable!
⇒ 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧: I loved him and all his flaws and how he was doing the best thing he could to save those he loves under the circumstances he was in. I just felt for him so much and wanted to give him a hug and tell him everything would be fine😭Also, he’s a nerd and a bookworm and a writer. More reasons to love him😁💓
Noor & Sal’s relationship was just the best❤️I tabbed almost all of their scenes together! You can see clearly how much they love and care for each other. And when things only started getting worse for them I just wanted to punch something I felt so angry!! It was so unfair and they didn’t deserve all that happened to them😭but I can understand how that only made them grow individually and together. (that last chapter was such a relief!)
I cried quite a few times. I felt angry and heartbroken. This story took a piece of my heart with every chapter. I felt so connected to everyone and everything.
As a muslim, I absolutely loved the Islam representation😭❤️it made this story seem even more personal and close to my heart. When Misbah said “If we are lost, God is like water, finding the unknowable path when we cannot.” It made my heart expand🥺
All My Rage also portrays islamophobia, drug and alcohol addiction, physical abuse, the impacts of sexual assault, grief and death, etc...really well. Make sure to check the trigger warnings before going into the story💓
It comes as no surprise to me that I loved this book; An Ember in the Ashes series is one of my favorites😍I admire Sabaa’s way of telling stories and writing characters and taking us along for the ride❤️Looking forward to all the other stories she’ll share with us!
August 12, 2022
[don't read this if you're a four/five-star reader of this book. please. i'm already very nervous to be the only one to be a one-star review in the midst of all these five/four-star reviews. if you can take criticism on your favorite books, then by all means do read it because i think i raise very valid points.]
oh how it pains me to force myself to write this. i'm not even joking or being sarcastic. i'm legit sad and angry and disappointed.
i haven't read many english books with muslim rep written by muslim, and especially pakistani, authors, but this one disappointed me to no end and made me decide i will never be falling for the betrayal that's "oh i'm going to relate to these characters because: muslim and pakistani." no, i won't. i know for a fact that i won't relate, especially after this book.
it had TERRIBLE muslim rep. albeit realistic for american pakistanis, it had lots of unnecessary events that meant literally nothing but disrespect. if you're like me, this book with all its disrespect will piss you off and you'd want to dnf it at multiple occasions.
my last straw was the last scene on a certain character's grave. it was so freaking disrespectful of a muslim, no matter how american. why it pissed me off more was it was completely unnecessary and the scene could've been okay without it.
it was an okay story. it would've been an incredible plot and a heartbreaking story and the characters would've been very special to me if it weren't for the lack of muslim-ness in them. honestly, they would've been better if they weren't represented to be muslims. because no.
to top it, i also don't think a non-muslim should read this book because there's such inaccurate representation. i know a lot of sabaa tahir's audiences are western people but i think that's damaging because she's, in my opinion, just trying to mould her stories to fit in with those audiences, to make it easier for them to accept our beliefs as muslims. which is a big no if you ask me. (i haven't read her infamous amber in the ashes yet, and i was SO excited for so long. now her beliefs have been making me want to kick it off my tbr.)
i realize i may sound harsh right now (i realize so many people love this book, which also makes me nervous about putting my opinion out there) but i was so so infuriated every second i had to read salahudin and noor's story. the only time i was genuinely invested was misbah's point of view. so, i owe it to myself to point out the things that were objectively good with this story:
♡ misbah. i liked misbah. she's probably the only character i liked. she deserved better. salahudin was a douche to her, always. not to mention toufiq.
♡ the plot itself and the plot twists were nice. it was heartbreaking and a little mysterious and it did raise critical social issues.
♡ elizabeth bishop's one art. that was so heartbreakingly beautiful.
that's it, i guess. if you want to know exactly what kind of disrespectful things i mentioned at the beginning of this caption, make sure to check out my story highlight (on instagram.com/hercrazybooksta) titled with the name of this book. hopefully, that justifies my anger. :)
if you're not interested, that's sweet too. i'm a nobody anyway.
oh how it pains me to force myself to write this. i'm not even joking or being sarcastic. i'm legit sad and angry and disappointed.
i haven't read many english books with muslim rep written by muslim, and especially pakistani, authors, but this one disappointed me to no end and made me decide i will never be falling for the betrayal that's "oh i'm going to relate to these characters because: muslim and pakistani." no, i won't. i know for a fact that i won't relate, especially after this book.
it had TERRIBLE muslim rep. albeit realistic for american pakistanis, it had lots of unnecessary events that meant literally nothing but disrespect. if you're like me, this book with all its disrespect will piss you off and you'd want to dnf it at multiple occasions.
my last straw was the last scene on a certain character's grave. it was so freaking disrespectful of a muslim, no matter how american. why it pissed me off more was it was completely unnecessary and the scene could've been okay without it.
it was an okay story. it would've been an incredible plot and a heartbreaking story and the characters would've been very special to me if it weren't for the lack of muslim-ness in them. honestly, they would've been better if they weren't represented to be muslims. because no.
to top it, i also don't think a non-muslim should read this book because there's such inaccurate representation. i know a lot of sabaa tahir's audiences are western people but i think that's damaging because she's, in my opinion, just trying to mould her stories to fit in with those audiences, to make it easier for them to accept our beliefs as muslims. which is a big no if you ask me. (i haven't read her infamous amber in the ashes yet, and i was SO excited for so long. now her beliefs have been making me want to kick it off my tbr.)
i realize i may sound harsh right now (i realize so many people love this book, which also makes me nervous about putting my opinion out there) but i was so so infuriated every second i had to read salahudin and noor's story. the only time i was genuinely invested was misbah's point of view. so, i owe it to myself to point out the things that were objectively good with this story:
♡ misbah. i liked misbah. she's probably the only character i liked. she deserved better. salahudin was a douche to her, always. not to mention toufiq.
♡ the plot itself and the plot twists were nice. it was heartbreaking and a little mysterious and it did raise critical social issues.
♡ elizabeth bishop's one art. that was so heartbreakingly beautiful.
that's it, i guess. if you want to know exactly what kind of disrespectful things i mentioned at the beginning of this caption, make sure to check out my story highlight (on instagram.com/hercrazybooksta) titled with the name of this book. hopefully, that justifies my anger. :)
if you're not interested, that's sweet too. i'm a nobody anyway.
needs-review
April 11, 2022I’ll read whatever Sabaa Tahir writes, but I’m super pumped about her pivot into contemporary fiction!
*Thanks to Penguin Teen for an advance review copy!
*Thanks to Penguin Teen for an advance review copy!
April 24, 2022
a book to read if uve forgotten why u love reading <3333
February 11, 2022
And the award for first book to make me cry this year goes to....
Seriously though, All My Rage is an incredible book. Heartbreaking and hopeful, a story about pain, loss, family, and forgiveness. I have enjoyed fantasy from this author and was curious to see how she tackled a contemporary story.
Told in two timelines, this book primarily focuses on current day but also includes flashbacks to a young woman coming of age in Pakistan and getting married. In the present day, two Muslim Pakistani teenagers who were childhood best friends are dealing with really difficult circumstances. Salahudin's mom has died, leaving him and his alcoholic father with a mountain of debt and an aging motel. He knows selling drugs is wrong, but it seems like the only option for keeping his family afloat.
Noor is desperate to escape their small town and the racialized bullying she faces, but her uncle- her only surviving family who saved her when a bomb killed the rest of her family in Pakistan- wants her to stay and work in the liquor store he owns. He doesn't want her getting what he had to give up- a college education. And he hates that she is religious.
This book is beautifully written and will rip your heart out before piecing it back together. I felt so deeply for these characters and Tahir navigates very sensitive issues with grace and compassion. I loved this so much more than I expected it to. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include addiction, drug use, medical scenes, physical abuse (on page), child sexual abuse (off page), racial and religious slurs, panic attacks, grief, death, police interactions, probably others but those are the big ones.
Seriously though, All My Rage is an incredible book. Heartbreaking and hopeful, a story about pain, loss, family, and forgiveness. I have enjoyed fantasy from this author and was curious to see how she tackled a contemporary story.
Told in two timelines, this book primarily focuses on current day but also includes flashbacks to a young woman coming of age in Pakistan and getting married. In the present day, two Muslim Pakistani teenagers who were childhood best friends are dealing with really difficult circumstances. Salahudin's mom has died, leaving him and his alcoholic father with a mountain of debt and an aging motel. He knows selling drugs is wrong, but it seems like the only option for keeping his family afloat.
Noor is desperate to escape their small town and the racialized bullying she faces, but her uncle- her only surviving family who saved her when a bomb killed the rest of her family in Pakistan- wants her to stay and work in the liquor store he owns. He doesn't want her getting what he had to give up- a college education. And he hates that she is religious.
This book is beautifully written and will rip your heart out before piecing it back together. I felt so deeply for these characters and Tahir navigates very sensitive issues with grace and compassion. I loved this so much more than I expected it to. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include addiction, drug use, medical scenes, physical abuse (on page), child sexual abuse (off page), racial and religious slurs, panic attacks, grief, death, police interactions, probably others but those are the big ones.
February 28, 2022
This book discussed some incredibly intense topics of abuse and addiction as well as racism and Islamophobia and loss of a parent. Be mindful of these as you read!
This book follows three perspectives. Present day Noor and Salahuddin, and Misbah in the past. Sabaa did such a phenomenal job making each voice distinct. It was beautiful to see the past and present connect, especially after Misbah’s health suffers. Seeing the two characters grapple with their grief in different ways was heartbreaking and beautiful.
There were moments that were hard to read. Salahuddin has to struggle with his father’s alcoholism and the neglect he feels while also trying to grapple with his faith and the grief of possibly losing his mother’s hotel as her health fails. Noor has a controlling and manipulative uncle that won’t let her go to college and wants her to stay far away from Islam.
What I think truly touched me was that their relationship with Islam was complex and it never fell into the rhetoric of “Not like other Muslims” or shaming Muslims who practice differently. Did I relate to this book in terms of the way faith was practiced? Not really. And yet, this book spoke to my core in a way that other books haven’t. This explored turning to faith even when you don’t feel worthy of it. It explores grappling with guilt and sin and forgiveness. AND IT HURT.
What Sabaa Tahir does best, in my opinion, is show the unfathomable love a mother has for her children. We see that with Sabaa’s other books, but this one really focuses on the sacrifices parents make for their children. This book did such a good job of sharing how one life can shape countless others and how one moment can change everything.
I cried near the end because you can feel the struggle in all of these characters and it feels like it’s completely rock bottom, and then you see the little bit of hope. It’s just as much a story of loss as it is a story of recovery and love.
This book follows three perspectives. Present day Noor and Salahuddin, and Misbah in the past. Sabaa did such a phenomenal job making each voice distinct. It was beautiful to see the past and present connect, especially after Misbah’s health suffers. Seeing the two characters grapple with their grief in different ways was heartbreaking and beautiful.
There were moments that were hard to read. Salahuddin has to struggle with his father’s alcoholism and the neglect he feels while also trying to grapple with his faith and the grief of possibly losing his mother’s hotel as her health fails. Noor has a controlling and manipulative uncle that won’t let her go to college and wants her to stay far away from Islam.
What I think truly touched me was that their relationship with Islam was complex and it never fell into the rhetoric of “Not like other Muslims” or shaming Muslims who practice differently. Did I relate to this book in terms of the way faith was practiced? Not really. And yet, this book spoke to my core in a way that other books haven’t. This explored turning to faith even when you don’t feel worthy of it. It explores grappling with guilt and sin and forgiveness. AND IT HURT.
What Sabaa Tahir does best, in my opinion, is show the unfathomable love a mother has for her children. We see that with Sabaa’s other books, but this one really focuses on the sacrifices parents make for their children. This book did such a good job of sharing how one life can shape countless others and how one moment can change everything.
I cried near the end because you can feel the struggle in all of these characters and it feels like it’s completely rock bottom, and then you see the little bit of hope. It’s just as much a story of loss as it is a story of recovery and love.
January 14, 2024
É dia 14 de janeiro e acho que já temos um forte candidato a favorito de 2024.
Posso dizer com todas as certezas que foi uma agradável surpresa e a prova de que realmente preciso de ler mais livros fora da minha zona de conforto.
Este livro foi uma montanha russa de emoções. Senti a tristeza, a dor e a raiva de todas as personagens ao máximo e vou pensar nesta história durante muito muito tempo.
É a prova de que a raiva faz parte de todos nós mas que não nos define. Acompanhar a evolução das personagens, a maneira como elas lidaram com as adversidades que enfrentam todos os dias, através da escrita da Sabaa foi extremamente doloroso, mas ao mesmo tempo que me partiu o coração foi colando-o de novo no sítio.
Se ainda não leram este livro, que seja o vosso sinal para o fazerem.
Posso dizer com todas as certezas que foi uma agradável surpresa e a prova de que realmente preciso de ler mais livros fora da minha zona de conforto.
Este livro foi uma montanha russa de emoções. Senti a tristeza, a dor e a raiva de todas as personagens ao máximo e vou pensar nesta história durante muito muito tempo.
É a prova de que a raiva faz parte de todos nós mas que não nos define. Acompanhar a evolução das personagens, a maneira como elas lidaram com as adversidades que enfrentam todos os dias, através da escrita da Sabaa foi extremamente doloroso, mas ao mesmo tempo que me partiu o coração foi colando-o de novo no sítio.
Se ainda não leram este livro, que seja o vosso sinal para o fazerem.
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